Fly Fishing

AlexisMT555 · Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2008 6:56 pm Post subject: Bonito Flies & Fly Line

Hi everyone,

After seeing many of the blitz stories on albies and bonitos on this website, I'd like to take my chance too, I haved already tried a couple times with no success.
When I run across deep and large channels from mangroves to some flats it happens often that I came close to bonitos chasing on surface in juvenile tiny baitfish, I've tried to caught them with a floating line and flies chartreuse or white, hooks size 1 or 2 but never managed to interest one to feed on. I'd like to know if it's a good start and must keep going that way until I hook one or if I should use an intermediate/sinking fly line and what kind of fly patterns you are using ?

Thanks

jeremy · Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2008 7:11 pm Post subject: Bonito Flies

Really! You see Bonito in the french west indies? Now, I am really jealous. Florida is the same .. when crossing flats and going through the big channels like boca grande .. the bonito/albies will be tearing up bait and slashing on the surface ...

FLIES- I have yet to meet a bonito or albie that doesn't like a "sand eel" type pattern .. here, on the east coast of USA we use Popovich style epoxy flies ... but, alot of guys use different things. And, I don't know if you have sand eels in the French west indies??? So, I would probably try another universally popular bonito/albie fly that seems to work "everywhere" or "everywhere" i have heard of anyway .. it's called the "Bonito Bunny" .. here is a picture.

FLY LINE - Intermediate line is a pretty good bet. floating will do .. but i like intermediate cuz you can shoot it a little better and it gets the fly just below the surface.

Also -- as you have probably noticed the fish are deceiving. they give the appearance that they are moving super fast and everything is chaotic. but, that's not always true. they are actually not moving as fast as they seem all the time and they are moving in a certain direction and they typically have patterns. so, try to pattern the fish and wait to make 1 good cast, when you are positioned ahead of the fish and the fish are moving towards you .. and when you do hook one, hang on .. it will take off at a pretty good speed! very fun fish to catch! would love to see a picture, if you catch one! good luck!

AlexisMT555 · Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2008 9:24 pm Post subject:

Wow...that's cool, I like to get a piece of places reknown for fishing as Florida...Yep there's bonito here too and they chase after greenish/blueish small baits but they look like to be at least half the size of a regular sand eel.
When I get a chance to be inside the school chasing, it actually happen one time, I see them surge from the deep, jumped and go again deep out of sight, so I don't really know if they're feeding baits just before jumping or just after landing. I mean when they jump because I mostly see them slashing on the surface..
Thanks for the flie pic and advice, I'll tie some of those and be ready next time with an intermediate fly line...for sure I'll post the pics of the fish.

jeremy · Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2008 7:31 am Post subject: try this

You might want to try how they fish for these fish in Florida. In the Northeast USA (where I live) we tend to get lots of bait that stays on the surface ... down in florida the bonito/albies are often found in deeper water and a little more off shore ... in mexico too, the way that the guys i have fished with often get these fish to the surface is with PILCHERS .. i don't know if you have that kind of bait there ... but maybe you would try this ..

1. find some bait near mangroves
2. use casting net and catch some of the baitfish .. keep them ALIVE. the more the better
3. go to where you have seen the bonito before or somewhere where there is a reef or wreck
4. toss out a few piltchers .. and see what happens. you should be able to raise the bonito and all sorts of other species ?? if they are around.

i have seen this work really well in florida and mexico .. give it a shot .. its alot of fun.

rhodyflyguy · Newbie Joined: Mar 17, 2007 Posts: 20

A fly that I've found to be really effective when albies or bonito are on small spearing or sand eels is a surf candy tied with polar hair. I usually tie them very sparsely but longer than the bait, usually 1/2 or 3/4" longer than the baitfish, and usually tied on a size 2 or 4 hook, as opposed to my usual size 1 or 1/0. I've also found a slow to moderate but steady retrieve is better than a super fast retrieve.

zdog · Newbie Joined: Nov 19, 2008 Posts: 11

what weight do you use for bonito and albies.

i use a orvis 8 weight tls power matrix with a orvis reel w/ 200+ yards of backing

jeremy · Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2008 9:09 pm Post subject: 9/10

I typically use a 9 or 10 wt rod with large arbor reel with 200+ yards of backing and for fly line I go with intermediate and or sinking line .. but the sinking line is more for distance and shootability as opposed to its ability to sink .. also, when i am fishing from foot a sinking line compensates for the elevation that i might be above the water (when standing on rocks or jetties) ... so basically, i use a line that will get me just below the surface of the water and the best line to do that (whether intermediate or 300 grain integrated sinking line) depends on where i am fishing .. if on the vineyard on beaches i'd probably roll with intermediate .. if on random beaches with high rock structures or jetties .. might use the sinking line .. and if big steady winds in my face (20-30mph).. might use sink over intermediate to get more distance ...

that is the setup i typically roll with.

zdog · Newbie Joined: Nov 19, 2008 Posts: 11

i mainly use chartuse or gray clouser because that is what i have had the best luck on but i am trying out the eat me fly which seems to be working